"That moment when God uses something you're reading
to open your eyes to the work He has done in your life
and will continue to do..."
*sigh*
:)
I was sitting here just now, reading "One in a Million" by Priscilla Shirer, when, in the first couple of pages, God used Priscilla's testimony to open my eyes to part of my own. Like Priscilla, I believed in Jesus as a child; I wanted and accepted God into my life before my age hit double digits. And, as it was with Priscilla, I moved beyond my childhood years and basically put God aside as I went off in search of 'life'.
As I was relating to Priscilla's testimony, and noted that God brought her, and I, back to Him again, He impressed upon my heart that He had done it once, so He could do it again. Meaning: I'm not as close to God as I once was - with that "once" referring to my public acceptance of Jesus Christ, 22 years ago - and I secretly fret over that and wonder if I'll ever be that close to Him again, and, if so, when - and that usually when I'm doubting I'll ever get over myself and get out of God's way so He can make all things right for me. To relieve me of that worry, God pointed out, just now, that this wasn't the first time I'd wandered off from Him... Today, He enabled my heart to get a clue - so to speak - so I'd stop fretting, to give me hope and to open my heart to Him and the work He is still doing in and for me. He had brought me back once before, He could, and was obviously willing to, do it again.
Oh, how my heart rejoiced on seeing that. To have God show me that He hasn't given up on me and that He is willing to draw me back was/is, to say the least, a major thrill! He loved me enough to find me the first time, to draw me back the second time, and He still won't let me go, even though I wandered off again. I may not be faithful to Him, but He is, and always will be, faithful to me - to all of us.
I find that great news. I know now that the intimacy I once shared with God will be restored to me - and I have no doubt that it will be even better than before, because after being covered by His grace and wrapped in His mercy in a way that I cannot deny in moments of weakness and doubt, I will have a greater awareness of His love and, therefore, love and trust him/open my heart to Him even more. I want that! I yearn for that. And I know He does, too...
God won't give up us, guys, because Love never gives up. No matter how far you've strayed from Him, no matter what your sin, no matter how much shame you bury yourself under, He's not going anywhere, He's not giving up on you, and He still has a plan for a better life for you. He loves you...and He wants to prove it.
As I was relating to Priscilla's testimony, and noted that God brought her, and I, back to Him again, He impressed upon my heart that He had done it once, so He could do it again. Meaning: I'm not as close to God as I once was - with that "once" referring to my public acceptance of Jesus Christ, 22 years ago - and I secretly fret over that and wonder if I'll ever be that close to Him again, and, if so, when - and that usually when I'm doubting I'll ever get over myself and get out of God's way so He can make all things right for me. To relieve me of that worry, God pointed out, just now, that this wasn't the first time I'd wandered off from Him... Today, He enabled my heart to get a clue - so to speak - so I'd stop fretting, to give me hope and to open my heart to Him and the work He is still doing in and for me. He had brought me back once before, He could, and was obviously willing to, do it again.
Oh, how my heart rejoiced on seeing that. To have God show me that He hasn't given up on me and that He is willing to draw me back was/is, to say the least, a major thrill! He loved me enough to find me the first time, to draw me back the second time, and He still won't let me go, even though I wandered off again. I may not be faithful to Him, but He is, and always will be, faithful to me - to all of us.
I find that great news. I know now that the intimacy I once shared with God will be restored to me - and I have no doubt that it will be even better than before, because after being covered by His grace and wrapped in His mercy in a way that I cannot deny in moments of weakness and doubt, I will have a greater awareness of His love and, therefore, love and trust him/open my heart to Him even more. I want that! I yearn for that. And I know He does, too...
God won't give up us, guys, because Love never gives up. No matter how far you've strayed from Him, no matter what your sin, no matter how much shame you bury yourself under, He's not going anywhere, He's not giving up on you, and He still has a plan for a better life for you. He loves you...and He wants to prove it.
Thank you, God. Thank you, Jesus!